High Court reserves decision on genital mutilation doctor sentence

The High Court has reserved its decision on an appeal by a former New South Wales gynaecologist over his trial for crimes against several patients.

Graeme Reeves, 63, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail in 2011 after being found guilty of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Carolyn DeWaegeneire and unnecessarily excising her clitoris during an operation at Bega, in the state's south, in 2002.

The so-called 'Butcher of Bega' was also found guilty of indecently assaulting two other female patients and pleaded guilty to fraud for practicing despite being banned.

His sentence was later increased by 18 months, despite the NSW Court of Appeal finding that the jury had not been correctly directed.

The NSW Court of Appeal used its discretion, finding that despite the error there had not been a substantial miscarriage of justice.

But lawyers for Reeves today told the High Court the misdirection did have an impact on the result and should be put aside.

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